| Vintage | Wine | Bottle Size | Unit of sale | Qty of unit | Qty of btl | Btl price (HKD) | Score | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion | 750 | BOTTLE | 108 | 108 | 850 | WA92-94 | EP |
|
| 2020 | Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion | 12000 | OWC1 | 2 | 2 | 20,000 | WA92-94 | EP |
|
| 2020 | Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion | 15000 | OWC1 | 2 | 2 | 26,000 | WA92-94 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion | 750 | OWC3 | 40 | 120 | 800 | WA91-93+ | EP |
|
| 2020 | Chateau Beychevelle | 750 | BOTTLE | 59 | 59 | 900 | WA94-96 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Canon | 750 | OWC6 | 2 | 12 | 950 | WA94-96 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Cheval Blanc | 750 | OWC3 | 3 | 9 | 4,500 | WA95-97 | EP |
|
| 2018 | Chateau Duhart Milon | 750 | OWC6 | 3 | 18 | 700 | WA93-95 | EP |
|
| 2019 | Chateau Haut Bailly | 750 | OWC12 | 10 | 120 | 1,080 | WA97-99 | EP |
|
| 2020 | Chateau Haut Bailly | 750 | BOTTLE | 66 | 66 | 1,180 | WA96-98+ | EP |
|
| 2019 | Chateau Haut Bailly - Haut Bailly II | 750 | BOTTLE | 44 | 44 | 350 | WA88-90 | EP |
|
| 2020 | Chateau Haut Bailly - Haut Bailly II | 750 | BOTTLE | 48 | 48 | 350 | WA87-89 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Haut Brion | 750 | OWC6 | 6 | 36 | 4,250 | WA96-98 | EP |
|
| 2019 | Chateau Lafite Rothschild | 6000 | BOTTLE | 1 | 1 | 70,000 | WA97-99 | EP |
|
| 2019 | Chateau Lafite Rothschild | 750 | OWC6 | 2 | 12 | 7,000 | WA97-99 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Lafite Rothschild | 750 | OWC3 | 1 | 3 | 5,500 | WA95-97 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Lafleur - Chateau Grand Village Red | 750 | BOTTLE | 120 | 120 | 280 | WA92-94 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Lafleur - Chateau Grand Village Red | 1500 | BOTTLE | 120 | 120 | 650 | WA92-94 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Lafleur - Les Perrieres | 750 | BOTTLE | 92 | 92 | 750 | WA94-95+ | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Lafleur - Les Perrieres | 1500 | BOTTLE | 30 | 30 | 1,650 | WA94-95+ | EP |
|
| 2017 | Chateau Latour - 'Les Forts de Latour' | 750 | OWC6 | 10 | 60 | 1,750 | WA94 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion | 750 | OWC6 | 4 | 24 | 1,200 | WA94-97 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Mouton Rothschild | 750 | OWC6 | 1 | 6 | 4,500 | WA95-96 | EP |
|
| 2021 | Chateau Mouton Rothschild - Le Petit Mouton | 750 | OWC6 | 1 | 6 | 1,800 | WA89-91 | EP |
|
| 2020 | Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron | 750 | OWC6 | 5 | 30 | 1,350 | WA95-97 | EP |
|
|
2020 Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion
750 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 850 / BTL
108 BTL available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
108
Qty of btl
108
Btl price (HKD)
850
Score
WA92-94
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2020 Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion
12000 ml
OWC1
EP
HKD 20,000 / BTL
2 case available
Bottle size
12000
Qty of unit
2
Qty of btl
2
Btl price (HKD)
20,000
Score
WA92-94
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2020 Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion
15000 ml
OWC1
EP
HKD 26,000 / BTL
2 case available
Bottle size
15000
Qty of unit
2
Qty of btl
2
Btl price (HKD)
26,000
Score
WA92-94
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Calicem - Calicem Saint Emilion
750 ml
OWC3
EP
HKD 800 / BTL
40 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
40
Qty of btl
120
Btl price (HKD)
800
Score
WA91-93+
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2020 Chateau Beychevelle
750 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 900 / BTL
59 BTL available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
59
Qty of btl
59
Btl price (HKD)
900
Score
WA94-96
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Canon
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 950 / BTL
2 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
2
Qty of btl
12
Btl price (HKD)
950
Score
WA94-96
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Cheval Blanc
750 ml
OWC3
EP
HKD 4,500 / BTL
3 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
3
Qty of btl
9
Btl price (HKD)
4,500
Score
WA95-97
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2018 Chateau Duhart Milon
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 700 / BTL
3 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
3
Qty of btl
18
Btl price (HKD)
700
Score
WA93-95
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2019 Chateau Haut Bailly
750 ml
OWC12
EP
HKD 1,080 / BTL
10 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
10
Qty of btl
120
Btl price (HKD)
1,080
Score
WA97-99
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2020 Chateau Haut Bailly
750 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 1,180 / BTL
66 BTL available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
66
Qty of btl
66
Btl price (HKD)
1,180
Score
WA96-98+
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2019 Chateau Haut Bailly - Haut Bailly II
750 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 350 / BTL
44 BTL available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
44
Qty of btl
44
Btl price (HKD)
350
Score
WA88-90
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2020 Chateau Haut Bailly - Haut Bailly II
750 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 350 / BTL
48 BTL available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
48
Qty of btl
48
Btl price (HKD)
350
Score
WA87-89
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Haut Brion
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 4,250 / BTL
6 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
6
Qty of btl
36
Btl price (HKD)
4,250
Score
WA96-98
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2019 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
6000 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 70,000 / BTL
1 BTL available
Bottle size
6000
Qty of unit
1
Qty of btl
1
Btl price (HKD)
70,000
Score
WA97-99
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2019 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 7,000 / BTL
2 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
2
Qty of btl
12
Btl price (HKD)
7,000
Score
WA97-99
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
750 ml
OWC3
EP
HKD 5,500 / BTL
1 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
1
Qty of btl
3
Btl price (HKD)
5,500
Score
WA95-97
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Lafleur - Chateau Grand Village Red
750 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 280 / BTL
120 BTL available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
120
Qty of btl
120
Btl price (HKD)
280
Score
WA92-94
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Lafleur - Chateau Grand Village Red
1500 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 650 / BTL
120 BTL available
Bottle size
1500
Qty of unit
120
Qty of btl
120
Btl price (HKD)
650
Score
WA92-94
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Lafleur - Les Perrieres
750 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 750 / BTL
92 BTL available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
92
Qty of btl
92
Btl price (HKD)
750
Score
WA94-95+
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Lafleur - Les Perrieres
1500 ml
BOTTLE
EP
HKD 1,650 / BTL
30 BTL available
Bottle size
1500
Qty of unit
30
Qty of btl
30
Btl price (HKD)
1,650
Score
WA94-95+
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2017 Chateau Latour - 'Les Forts de Latour'
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 1,750 / BTL
10 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
10
Qty of btl
60
Btl price (HKD)
1,750
Score
WA94
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 1,200 / BTL
4 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
4
Qty of btl
24
Btl price (HKD)
1,200
Score
WA94-97
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 4,500 / BTL
1 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
1
Qty of btl
6
Btl price (HKD)
4,500
Score
WA95-96
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2021 Chateau Mouton Rothschild - Le Petit Mouton
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 1,800 / BTL
1 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
1
Qty of btl
6
Btl price (HKD)
1,800
Score
WA89-91
Location
EP
|
|||||||||||
|
2020 Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron
750 ml
OWC6
EP
HKD 1,350 / BTL
5 case available
Bottle size
750
Qty of unit
5
Qty of btl
30
Btl price (HKD)
1,350
Score
WA95-97
Location
EP
|
| HK / HK storage; ready for delivery within 1-2 business days. | |
| HK-Shop / available for in-store purchase in Sai Ying Pun. | |
| HK Pre-arrival wines in transit to Hong Kong. Please contact us for arrival estimate. | |
| En-Primeur / wines still in chateau; will arrange delivery to once wine is received in HK |
Virtually every château I visited during my week in Bordeaux led with a defense against the obvious objection to 2022: “Of course by now you know that 2022 was a very hot year, with drought conditions, but…”, and a big focus on the ‘but’. That ‘but’ seems to be a very positive one however – many 2022s offer an almost perplexing, paradoxical level of freshness. The best wines of the vintage offer high-wire act level balance, combining super intensity of fruit, enticingly exotic-edged fragrance, and surprisingly reasonable PH levels, and expressions of freshness. When I met with Christian Moueix in Libourne, he was unequivocal – this is a great vintage, “even greater than 1982, because of the low yield”. Did the tough, dry conditions favour some terroirs over others?, I wondered. He paused, and considered my question before answering - “In theory in these conditions clay or limestone are favoured, but in practice no”, he said, followed by a broad smile.
Alcohol levels are on the high side in 2022. We are talking above 14% alcohol by volume (ABV) in most cases, and there were some grands vins made in 2022 at 15%. Take a pause now and let that number sink in. Fifteen. (Where possible I have included the alcohol levels with my tasting notes). The second element in the 2022 style is that due to a lack of water, and intense heat, berries were small, and the ratio between skins (aromas, flavours, tannins) and juice was low. In other words it was easy to extract a lot from less, and easy to achieve concentration. 2022 has the potential for intense aroma and fruit, but also formidable levels of tannin. Nonetheless, many château seemed to get extractions right. The pendulum has been moving in this ‘easy-does-it’ direction style-wise for some years now, and I was really pleased to see elegance in wines like Pape Clément and Angelus for instance. Others made wine with a ‘classical’ sort of extraction. Wines like Ducru-Beaucaillou and Léoville Las Cases seem almost brutal in their structure, and left me scratching my head a little. Both feel like they have a chance of turning out brilliantly, but it is difficult to tell beneath the sheer cloak of tannin. In any case they will require long cellaring, and this is worth noting. Indeed, Léoville Las Cases write in their primeurs booklet – ‘This 2022 vintage reminds us of the 1870’. I have not tasted Las Cases 1870, but over the years I have tried 1870 Lafite, 1870 Gruaud Larose and 1870 Mouton amongst others – all are still rich and structured in the 21st century! They would have been a challenge to taste from cask!! These days however, as customers, we are used to drinking windows that begin earlier. So, read references to tannin and structure in tasting notes (mine and others’) carefully if this is not for you, even if the wines will amaze your great grandchildren.
In some cases these two factors - alcoholic heat exacerbated by rich tannins – dominate in the wines. There is a real feeling of intensity, density, but not the lushness of real fruit, especially mid-palate, to balance. Not much fun.
But where all this was managed well, and the secret to 2022 was there – freshness – some real Bordeaux magic is on offer in 2022. This is not a relentlessly ripe and sweet baked vintage. There’s real vivacity. Think of it more as a supercharged year.
Why in a year of heat and drought is there such freshness? I heard many different explanations, some contradictory between châteaux, but here are some key points. At Château Lafleur, Omri Ram pointed to three factors that distinguish 2022 from other hot years. Firstly, there was good rainfall in November and December 2021, ensuring some moisture reserves for 2022. This was followed by a ‘real winter’, giving the vines a break. Then, when the vines woke up in the Spring, 2022 was already into drought conditions, an important signal for the vines which put energy into root systems. Leaf production was not excessive, and bunches were smaller. There were ten nights of frost in March/April, but there was little damage, there was one incident of hail (at a small part of Grand Village), but after that the vintage was quite linear, with very little disease pressure, and fruit at harvest was in very good health.
Thomas Burke, at Château Margaux echoed Ram’s comments that this was a “relatively easy vintage, with no frost, no hail, no disease pressure.” There was very little rain – 340mm. The heat and drought delivered incredibly small berries (the lowest weight berries in 20 years), and consequently the yields were low – 25hl/ha. The wine was dense and ripe, with lots of concentration and tannin (highest tannins level ever), but the surprise at the estate was how round and soft the tannins were. “Something unique happened – the freshness. When we look at the PH level of 2022, it’s even lower than in 2021. It’s a paradox.” “Why?” – someone asked during our visit. Burke replied “We don’t know. Everyone has ideas why it is this way, and we love to talk about those ideas, but in truth it is probably a number of factors, but we don’t know. But taste the wines and see for yourself.” To my palate, Château Margaux is something close to the archetype 2022, in the best sense – it is straight and structured in a way that reminds me of their 1986, but with finer, softer tannins, even more freshness (in a more 1996 direction), and the sort of precision we have only really seen in the past decade or less.
Were there district winners and losers? I missed too many châteaux to be more definitive in answering this question. It doesn’t seem like a bank vs bank, Cabernet vs Merlot sort of year. Rather it seems like a year in which terroir was important, and the quality of work and decisions were critical. I had hoped for more from Graves than I saw, but I couldn’t tell you why that is. Otherwise I saw exceptional examples everywhere (and disappointments). Perhaps it is not a memorable year for whites, though there were some very good ones (Pape Clement, Chevalier, and Pavillon Blanc), and I think generally the style of the (well-made) Sauternes is in the fuller style we actually go for less these days (bolder, heavier).
The Dry Whites |
||
| Aile d’Argent | 90-92 | |
| Château Carbonnieux Blanc | 90-92 | |
| Champs Libres | -- | |
| Domaine de Chevalier Blanc | 86-88 | |
| Domaine de Chevalier Blanc | 93-96 | |
| Château Couhins Lurton Blanc | 86-89 | |
| Château Fieuzal Blanc | 90-92 | |
| Château Grand Village Blanc | -- | |
| Château Haut-Brion Blanc | 90-92? | |
| La Clarté | 86-88 | |
| Château Latour Martillac Blanc | 90-92 | |
| Château La Louvière Blanc | 90-92 | |
| Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc | 89-91? | |
| Château Olivier Blanc | 87-89 | |
| Château Pape Clement Blanc | 93-95 | 92-93? |
| Pavillon Blanc | 94-96 | |
| Château Puygueraud Blanc | 85-86 | |
| Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc | 93-95 | |
| Les Hauts de Smith Blanc | 91-93 | |
Right Bank Satellites |
||
| Château Alcée | 86-88 | |
| Château de Bel-Air | 90-92 | |
| Château Grand Village Rouge | -- | |
| Les Perrières | -- | |
| Château La Prade | 89-91 | |
| Château Puygueraud | 89-92 | |
Pomerol |
||
| Château Bourgneuf | 93-95 | |
| Château Certan de May | 93-95 | |
| Château Chantalouette | 89-91 | |
| Château La Conseillante | 97-99 | |
| Château L’Evangile | 95-97 | |
| Blason de L’Evangile | 91-93 | |
| Château La Fleur-Pétrus | 94-96 | |
| Château Le Gay | 91-93 | |
| Manoir de Gay | 86-89 | |
| Château La Grave | 91-93 | |
| Château Hosanna | 93-95 | |
| Château Lafleur | -- | |
| Les Pensées | -- | |
| Château Lafleur-Gazin | 93-95 | |
| Château Lagrange | 89-91 | |
| Château Lagravière | 89-91 | |
| Château Latour à Pomerol | 93-96 | |
| Château Montviel | 91-93 | |
| Château Nenin | 90-92 | |
| Le Pin | 95-97 | |
| Château Plince | 88-90 | |
| Château Saint-Pierre | 92-94 | |
| “II” de Ch Saint-Pierre | 89-91 | |
| Château Trotanoy | 95-97+ | |
| Vieux Chateau Certan | 95-97 | |
| Château La Violette | 92-94 | |
St.-Émilion |
||
| Château Angelus | 95-97 | |
| Carillon d’Angelus | 92-94 | |
| Château Ausone | 92-94 | |
| La Chapelle d’Ausone | 91-92 | |
| Château Bélair-Monange | 91-94? | |
| Château Bellevue | 91-93 | |
| Château Berliquet | 92-94 | |
| Calicem | -- | |
| Château Canon | 95-97 | |
| Château Cheval Blanc | 95-97+ | |
| Château La Clotte | 89-91 | |
| Couvent des Jacobins | -- | |
| Château Figeac | 96-98 | |
| Château Fonbel | 88-91 | |
| Château Haut Simard | 90-91 | |
| L’If | 92-93 | |
| Château Larcis Ducasse | 90-94+ | |
| Château Moulin Saint-Georges | 90-92 | |
| Château Pavie Macquin | 94-96 | |
| Château Peymouton | 93-95 | |
| Château Pindefleurs | 91-93 | |
| Château Quinault L’Enclos | 90-92 | |
| Château La Serre | 91-93 | |
| Château Simard | 91-93 | |
Graves / Pesseac-Léognan |
||
| Château Carbonnieux Rouge | 87-89 | |
| Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion | 95-97 | |
| “C” des Carmes Haut-Brion | 92-94 | |
| Domaine de Chevalier Rouge | 91-93 | 90-92 |
| Château Couhins-Lurton Rouge | 85-87? | |
| Château de Fieuzal Rouge | 92-94 | |
| Château Haut Bailly | 92-94+ | |
| Haut Baily II | 87-89 | |
| Château Haut-Brion | 92-94+? | |
| Le Clarence de Haut-Brion | 89-91 | |
| Château Latour Martillac | 86-88 | |
| Château La Louvière Rouge | 89-91 | 89-91 |
| Château Malartic Lagravière Rouge | 91-93 | |
| Château La Mission Haut-Brion | 93-95 | |
| La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion | 91-93 | |
| Château Olivier Rouge | 90-92 | |
| Château Pape Clement | 94-96 | |
| Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge | 94-96 | |
| Château Thil Rouge | 90-92 | |
Médoc / Haut-Médoc / Listrac-Médoc |
||
| Château Potensac | 90-92 | |
Margaux |
||
| Château Brane Cantenac | 87-89? | |
| Baron de Brane | 85-87 | |
| Blason de d’Issan | 87-89? | |
| Château d’Issan | 87-88? | |
| Château Margaux | 96-98+ | |
| Pavillon Rouge | 92-94 | |
| Château Palmer | 98-100 | |
| Alter Ego de Palmer | 92-95 | |
St.-Julien |
||
| Clos du Marquis | 91-93 | |
| Château Ducru-Beaucaillou | 91-96 | |
| La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou | 89-91 | |
| Le Petit Ducru | 87-90 | |
| Madame de Beaucaillou | 86-88 | |
| Château Langoa-Barton | 91-93 | |
| Château Léoville Barton | 94-96 | |
| Château Léoville Las Cases | 92-98 | |
| Château Mauvesin Barton | 91-93 | |
Pauillac |
||
| Château d’Armailhac | 91-93 | |
| Château Clerc Milon | 93-96 | |
| Pastourelle de Clerc Milon | 89-91 | |
| Château Duhart-Milon | 89-92 | |
| Château Grand Puy Lacoste | 94-96 | |
| Château Haut Batailley | 92-94 | |
| Verso de Haut Batailley | 90-92 | |
| Moulin de Duhart | 87-89 | |
| Château Lafite-Rothschild | 98-100 | |
| Carruades de Lafite | 90-93 | |
| Château Latour | 96-98 | |
| Les Forts de Latour | 93-95 | |
| Pauillac de Château Latour | 90-93 | |
| Château Lynch Bages | 91-95? | |
| Echo de Lynch Bages | 90-92 | |
| Château Mouton-Rothschild | 94-96+ | |
| Le Petit Mouton | 86-88 | |
| Château Pedesclaux | 86-89? | |
| Château Pichon Longueville Baron | 96-98 | |
| Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande | 93-95 | |
St.-Éstephe |
||
| Château Lafon-Rochet | 83-86? | |
| Château Phélan Ségur | 90-92 | |
| Frank Phélan | 85-87 | |
| Château Les Ormes de Pez | 92-94 | |
Sauternes |
||
| Château Broustet | 91-93 | |
| Château Climens | 91-93 | |
| Château Coutet | 92-94 | |
| Château Doisy Daëne | 86-88 | |
| Château Doisy Vedrines | 89-91 | |
| Château de Fargues | 93-95 | |
| Château Guiraud | 92-94 | |
| Clos Haut Peyraguey | 93-95 | |
| Château Lafaurie Peyraguey | 90-92 | |
| Château Rieussec | 89-91 | |
| Château Suduiraut | 93-95 | |
| Château La Tour Blanche | 91-93 | |
In an ideal world I would taste from a wider range of châteaux, re-taste key wines on different days, and spend 3-4 weeks at this. My notes were made over a single week, brilliantly choreographed and hosted by my friend and négocient, Manu, and this report is the result of that very intense week. (Unfortunately, I had to miss some appointments this year).
I have been tasting en primeur for a number of years, and that affords a sort of ‘tasting calibration’ that can take into account the tender age of the wines. Wines that are only a few months old can be very tricky to judge, and score ranges and impressions – from anyone – should be treated as a rough guide to what we might expect in bottle. Some are almost opaque – if not in colour, in what they reveal about themselves at this embryonic stage. If I find a wine hard to judge I try to express that in the note, and give a wider score range too.
Wines also ‘move around’ a lot at this stage of their life. A week or two can make a big difference, but also tasting a cool sample on a wet cool morning at a UGC (or other group) tasting on one day, and a fairly warm sample, on a hot stuffy afternoon in a warm château salon on another can make a big difference (note, unfortunately, Châteaux d’Issan and Brane-Cantenac, suffered the latter – those wines may prove far better than the impressions they gave on the day, but I cannot write a note based on something imagined).
But I would therefore read more into a really positive tasting note and score than a negative one. Style is as important a consideration as score. A high score doesn’t mean you will like the wine, and a moderate score might be given to a very good one that is right in the groove of what you actually enjoy. Read the descriptions carefully, and read from a variety of sources. (This is general advice when reading other people’s tasting notes anyway).
Consider prices carefully when the offers come out. Most fine Bordeaux is nonetheless made in plentiful quantities, so it is not rare wine. We are fortunate to be living in a time when châteaux are making the best quality wines they have ever made, and we have had a number of recent successful vintages. When 2022s are released, look at other recent vintages for the same wines – read reviews, look at prices for those wines. Because you are buying 2022s as futures, they should look like a good deal today, compared to recent comparable quality vintages that are physically available for immediate delivery.
That said, it is my personal view that in today’s market top quality Bordeaux offers very good value for money. Price is a question of market sentiment, but for quality in the bottle, I think there is amazing value available, especially in the tier right behind all the first growths.
I do think though that 2022 deserves a place in all Bordeaux enthusiasts’ cellars. The natural sense of concentration and the freshness combine to offer a real vintage signature, one that Bordeaux enthusiasts will want to revisit. Amongst them are undoubtedly some future classics, and for value seekers there will be some exceptional gems to find too. Some ’22s will find a place in my own cellar, for sure.
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